Nonwovens dominate the hygiene market and are projected to grow at twice the rate of wovens/textiles

Nonwovens dominate the hygiene market and are projected to grow at twice the rate of wovens/textiles

The global hygiene market is projected to consume 6.0 million tonnes of nonwovens and wovens/textiles with a total value of $23.1 billion by 2021, and a projected annual growth rate of 6.4% from 2016-21, according to Smithers Pira.

The hygiene market, as defined in The Future of Global Hygiene Markets to 2021: Wovens vs Nonwovens, includes traditional hygiene (diapers/ nappies, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence), medical and wipes markets. This report includes market data for products used in these markets based on both nonwoven and woven/textile substrates.

Based on sales and consumption data, nonwovens dominate the hygiene market and continue to grow at two times or more the rate of wovens or textiles. Still, the wovens market in hygiene is over $1.3 billion in 2016. One of the key trends driving the global hygiene market is the growth of disposables versus reusables, each of the three major segments of the hygiene market has a segment where disposables are replacing or continue to replace reusable products.

Phillip Mango, report author

The major battle in traditional hygiene markets is in baby and adult diapers, nonwovens versus where decades ago reusable cotton cloth textile diapers were replaced by disposable wovens diapers. In most developed regions today, disposable diapers have a large majority. In developing countries and regions, disposable penetration is much lower, but the alternative varies from no diaper to a ‘many use’ textile ‘diaper’.

Spunlaid is the largest forming process used in the global hygiene market, dominating two out of the three major segments of the hygiene market (traditional hygiene, medical). Only in wipes is spunlaid a small player. In 2016, spunlaid is the leading web forming process with about 42% of all nonwovens consumed, or 1.9 million tonnes consumed. Spunlaid has grown so fast and is so large that it is projected to slow in growth significantly from 2016–21, to only 6.3%. By 2021, consumption of spunlaid is projected to reach 2.5 million tonnes.

The Future of Global Hygiene Markets to 2021: Wovens vs Nonwovens is based on both primary and secondary research. Primary research included interviews with key participants in marketing, sales, production and product development for the entire nonwovens/wovens supply chain: raw materials, nonwoven substrate, nonwoven converters and nonwoven marketers, woven or textile producers, converters and end users. Key participants interviewed included personnel from nonwovens/wovens producers, private label producers, raw material suppliers and general industry experts.